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Saudi Arabia Cracks Down on Youths Joining Syria Jihadis
(Financial Times-UK) Simeon Kerr - A royal decree aiming to stem the flow of fighters and money to radical Islamist groups in the Syrian civil war gives three to 20-year jail terms for Saudi nationals who fight abroad, or join or endorse domestic and international terrorist groups, as the kingdom seeks to minimize the flow of nationals fighting alongside extremist groups in Syria. At the same time, Saudi clerics have been encouraging youths to wage jihad in Syria, and constant promotion of the plight of Syrian Sunni Muslims on social media has further fuelled an exodus of young men to fight. Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry estimates that 1,000 Saudi men are currently fighting in Syria, while Western officials say twice that number have joined the fight.